'No bid yet' to refloat ferry

Wednesday 2 January 2008 00:02 BST

Coastguards say there will be no bid on Saturday to refloat a stricken ferry that ran aground off Blackpool.

A spokesman for Liverpool Coastguard said: "I don't think anything is going to happen until they get a salvage team on board to assess the vessel's condition. I don't think anything will happen today."

A spokesman for Seatruck Ltd., which owns the Riverdance ferry, said: "Two heavy trucks of salvage equipment are arriving from Rotterdam.

"The salvage master and his team are making an inspection from the shore this morning. Their intention is to board the ship. That may happen today."

Meanwhile, hero rescuers were hailed for their bravery after saving the lives of 23 people as the stricken ferry was battered by mountainous seas.

Helicopters and lifeboats scrambled to the ferry, after a giant 'freak' wave hit the vessel around 7.30pm on Thursday 12 miles out in the storm-tossed Irish Sea off the coast near Blackpool.

Airman Rich Taylor was winched down "swinging like a pendulum" in the gale-force 70mph winds, while below lifeboat crew raced to the scene braving 20 foot waves crashing over their boats.

Transport Minister Tom Harris thanked the rescuers, including crews from the RAF, Royal Navy, and English and Irish Coastguards.

"We always talk about hypothetical dangers some of these people have to face. Actually, last night was for real, these people put their lives at risk and I'm sure the 23 people on board are going to be eternally grateful for their efforts," he said. "I pay genuine tribute to what they have done."

Amid a "horrendous" storm, some of the ferry's cargo of 50 lorries had broke chains holding them down, on its voyage from Warren Point in Northern Ireland to Heysham. As the load shifted the vessel began to list at 60 degrees in the roughest sea conditions seen for a decade.